IF YOU GO

Victoria College's Choir and the VC Choraliers will perform a one-act opera on Friday and Saturday.

"Amahl and the Night Visitors" tells the story of a lame shepherd boy and his mother living on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Just after the birth of Jesus Christ, the two open their home to the three kings on their way to bestow gifts upon the Christ child. Amahl's mother fears that due to him being handicapped, they'll both end up beggars - but the birth of Christ is a setting for miracles.

In this lighthearted and entertaining opera, Amahl quizzes the visitors about what it's like to be a king. But even though the boy has a slightly tarnished reputation as a teller of tall tales, it's his mother who tries to steal the king's gold. When caught, she returns the treasure after it's freely offered to her - King Melchior knows that Christ will not need material riches to build his kingdom.

Touched by this, Amahl offers to give the Holy Child his only possession. What happens as a result is a true Christmas miracle.

Originally written for television by Gian Carlo Menotti, "Amahl and the Night Visitors" has been a holiday season tradition since it first aired live on NBC in 1951.